19 January 2012

"Resurrection" #Fridayflash

Photo credit: click from morguefile.com

The earth lay covered over with a blanket of fresh-fallen snow. Grave diggers cleared away a patch and broke ground. They worked well into the day, their sweat and breath steaming in the chilly air. When they’d finished, a doorway stood open, sunk into the ground. A haven for the dead. A subterranean bed. A regal casket was carried out by solemn pallbearers, silver watch chains winking in the gloom of black. Fingerprints marring the elegant brass handles were wiped clean with a white handkerchief, produced from an unknown pocket.
Mourners stood in quiet rows, swaying to hypnotic drone of the priest’s eulogy. He blessed the raw earth’s open wound.
I am the Resurrection and the Life.
The coffin sank into the earth on whispering pulleys.
I am the Resurrection and the Life.
Holy water rained down without a sound.
A sharp cry from one of the onlookers punched through the priest’s words. The woman fainted. Prayer continued, though no one was listening.
Light faded from the heavens. The ceremony had come to the final words.
The fragile form within the luxurious box was sandwiched between heaven and hell, forever locked in earth’s embrace.
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust.
A star shot through the yawning sky. Gentle mists of dew shook from the upper branches of trees in the early morning breeze. Birds  stirred and flitted about overhead, busy already capturing fleeing insects. They chirruped like crickets themselves, obviously pleased with the day’s bounty.
It was a golden sunrise, like the exterior curve of a ripe apple from the fabled Herculean myth. Shrouds of woolen clouds framed the skies, idyllic and yet ignorant in their silent grandeur.
Day returned.


Tim VanSant Writes said...

Love the atmosphere [no pun intended].

ganymeder said...

Lovely, the contrast between life and death.

Eric J. Krause said...

Excellent story! Beautifully written. Enjoyed it a TON.

John Wiswell said...

This is some gorgeous work, Carrie. The use of short paragraphs makes it cut, while your language is evocative enough to do the heavy lifting of what you typically do in longer ones. Some excellent work here, one of my favorites of yours.

Tom Gillespie said...

Beautiful prose poetry..movement and stillness, life and death

nerinedorman said...

I have gooseflesh!

Larry Kollar said...

This was near-poetic in its solemnity. Wonderful contrast between humans mourning the loss of one of their own vs. Nature celebrating the new morning.

Kim Batchelor said...

Your images here are really great, starting with "silver watch chains winking in the gloom of black." Very evocative.

Icy Sedgwick said...

Beautifully written, as always. Some really stunning imagery here.

Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

I can't believe I missed this last week! And what a beauty it is, too. Poe-like and pristine, like heavy velvet draperies, it reeks of solemn purpose, spectral pomp and ceremony. Delicious descriptions.